Nothing much has happened since recruiting Not-Enrique. I haven't talked to either Changelings much either, but no attacks or anything, so hopefully that's a good sign.

I was walking to my locker with Tobes, with the last class having just finished, when Strickler approached.

"Young Atlas, may I take you away from Mr Domzalski for a minute?"

"Would you mind Tobes?" I say turning to him, "I'm sure it won't take long."

"Sure, Jimbo! I will meet you at the lockers." With that, Toby left.

Strickler looks around and when he is a sure no one else is around, he pulls out a grey scale. "I apologise for taking you away from Young Tobias, but I thought I should tell you this as soon as possible. I have been in classes all day, so this was the first time I could contact you. Do you know what this is?" he says, handing me the scale.

I examine it, then drop it in shock when I realise it is a Stalkling scale.

Strickler chuckles at my reaction, "I would take that as a yes."

I pick up the scale and look at Strickler accusingly. "Couldn't you stop Bular from sending a Stalkling after my friend?"

Sobering, he says, "I am remorseful to say the deed had already been done by the time I found out, and once a Stalkling has its prey…"

"They stalk their prey until one of them is killed. Yes, I know."

Strickler looks at me, shocked for a second before nodding to himself, and saying, "Good, you already understand the situation. I have told Ms. Janeth that you will be missing this rehearsal due to some extra credit you are doing for me and she was happy to approve since you have already memorised your lines. I suggest you go and catch up to your young friend before he leaves without you."

"Thank you, Mr Strickler. I will not leave him be alone until the Stalkling is dealt with. Could you come over later to help with dealing with it?"

"I have some business to deal with now, for a colleague of mine has asked to meet in private today and I have to oblige or appear weak."

"Ok, I will see you later tonight."

...

After explaining to Toby that Mr Strickler had given me some extra credit work, he agreed to let me join him down in Trollmarket. I told him I could do the work and get some stuff to help me from around there.

I read up on Stalklings as Toby trained. When I had had just about enough of that, I told him I wanted to do some exploring, so I could go train with Draal.

...

When I was about to leave after training with Draal, he pulled me aside. He hadn't done that before; so far he respected my rules and we trained, then went our separate ways. Before I could say I needed to go, he said, "I know who trained you."

That stopped me from saying anything. I croaked out "Who?" I know I have no reason to be nervous. Why would he ever think in a million years that he was the one who trained me? I had had a lot of training from everyone over the years but he was the first one who taught me about sword fighting and that sort of thing stays with you even if you have had other teachers after that.

"I have been thinking, I know I can't ask questions or anything, but ever since our first sparring, I've known that I recognised some of the moves you did and even though it makes no sense, the more we trained and the more I observed, the more certain I was. I trained you somehow."

I gave off a nervous laugh, "Why would you think that would be possible? We had never met before I entered Trollmarket for the first time." That wasn't exactly a lie, I hadn't until I first entered in the old timeline. "And you don't remember teaching me, do you?" I suddenly thought maybe he remembered or something, because he was dead in the other timeline or something.

"See, you don't deny it, and no I don't remember, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I know I'm not going crazy."

What should I say, what could I say? I could see there was no way out of this except for flat out lying to him, and I don't want to do that. Besides, even if I did lie to him, I'm not even sure that would work. I think the best bet is to see what he thinks and see if I can roll with whatever explanation he has for his theory. "Why would you think that?" I question again.

"Well first I thought changeling but then I realised that you and the trollhunter had already played around with a Gaggletack, as well as the trollhunter already being dead with the amulet stolen and Trollmarket overrun with Changelings if you were. So then I started thinking how could I have done something without remembering doing it." He started listing, "amnesia, potion, magic, time travel," I gasped at the last, knowing after I did it that I had just given myself away, but I wasn't expecting him to be so good at guessing. "Time travel. I knew something was not quite right about you, you know do much." Before I could say anything, he was pinning me against the wall.

"I can explain!"

"It better be a good one, time traveling fleshbag!"

"I will, but can you let me go first?" I wheeze, "you're sort of cutting off my air…"

"Sorry," He let me go and stepped back, "you better not try any funny business like running away."

"Wouldn't dream of it" I replied, breathing air deeply back into my lungs. "So, as you already suspect, yes, you were my original trainer, and yes, I am from the future" I decided then and there that what have I got to lose, he has kept my secrets so far, and if he decides that I am crazy and tries to kill me, I can always call forth my amulet and troll form to fight him. However, as I look up at him to begin my story, I realise that he has stumbled back in shock and was now leaning against the wall on the other side of the passage leading out of the heroes foredge. Even though he must have suspect it, he must not have truly believed it. I ask, "Are you ok Draal?"

"Yes, just need a second to process it. I know I already thought what you said was true, but I didn't expect it to actually be true, and even if it was, I wasn't expecting you to come out and just tell me."

I heard Toby calling me. I looked at Draal and saw he was still in shock. "That's Tobes calling me, I promise I will explain myself next time I come, but I need to go now. See you soon Draal. Coming Tobes!" I call.